Merewether's Jackson Baker eyes Surfest crown as top seed

But next week, the Merewether 25-year-old will hit the water at his home break as top seed for the City of Newcastle Pro.

It continues a dream year for Baker, who is competing as a rookie on the World Surf League Championship Tour.

"[Surfest co-ordinator] Warren [Smith] told me the other night and it's a pretty special feeling," Baker said of the No.1 contest seeding. "I guess that also brings added pressure but I'm going to take it in my stride. It's a privilege for myself just to see how far I've come.

"Three to four years ago, I was probably battling to get into these events and now I'm the top seed and on the CT. I've come a long way and you've got to take these moments and just appreciate it and be proud of how far you've come."

The City of Newcastle Pro is a 5000-point WSL Qualifying Series event. Baker will not gain any points by surfing in the contest but the Novocastrian was glad he could fit it in before the CT continues in Australia next month.

"An event at your local beach, regardless if it means points for me, is definitely hard to not get excited about," Baker said.

"But it wasn't until I got home that I thought it is in a good time and that I am able to compete. It took a bit of decision-making but everything that I looked at was leaning towards doing it, so I'm glad to be home for it.

"It's a very special event to me with everything Warren and everyone in Newcastle has done for me."

Baker is ranked No.23 on the CT after three events. He was 17th at Pipeline then Sunset before ninth in Portugal.

The top-22 ranked surfers after the next two CT events - at Bells Beach then Margaret River next month - will take part in the second half of the year while the remaining competitors will try to requalify for next year's tour through the Challenger Series.

"I'm stoked with how I've been going in my performances each event," Baker said. "I feel like I've proved a lot to myself and I've given myself a lot of confidence and it's only upwards from here.

"There's been a lot to take in. But I feel like with everything that has come forward, I've taken it in my stride. There's still a whole lot to learn, and that's the goal. It's not about being there for this year. It's about being there for years to come and make a proper career out of it."

Baker is one of four CT surfers entered in the City of Newcastle Pro at Merewether beach, set to start Tuesday. Fellow Merewether competitor Ryan Callinan plus Portugal's Frederico Morais and Italian Leonardo Fioravanti are also surfing.

Newcastle-based defending champion Julian Wilson has also confirmed he will surf in his first competition since the Toyko Olympics last July.

No Newcastle-born surfer has won Surfest's men's title.

"I've been putting it in my head that this is my year," Baker said. "To win the event on home turf and to have that MR trophy in your hands would be pretty cool."

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